January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

KARACHI, Jan 3: Additional District and Sessions Judge-II, Central, Nelofer Shahnawaz on Thursday adjourned till Jan 18 the hearing of a case, pertaining to a boiler explosion at a factory in New Karachi in July, as lawyers’ did not attend court proceedings in response to a strike call.

The blast, which occurred in a towel-dyeing and bleaching factory on July 24, 2007, had left nine people dead and 25 others injured.

The complainant, ASI Naeemuddin, and a prosecution witness, ASI Abdul Rahman, appeared in the court but could not record their statements due to the absence of lawyers.

The court reissued bailable warrants for the arrest of investigation officer Mohammad Ilyas and ASI Mohammad Fayyaz who have not been appearing in the court despite having been sent notices and remainders.

The court also issued notices to the other prosecution witnesses to record their statements on the next date of hearing.

About 10 prosecution witnesses have so far deposed in the case.Akhtar Hussain Baloch, owner of the factory, through his counsel, had submitted a bail application to the court. The court fixed Jan 7 as the next date for hearing of his bail application and directed the defence counsel to present his arguments on the same date.

Earlier, Public Prosecutor Mohammad Azeem Memon, submitted to the court that safety devices were not in place at the factory and some tubes of the boiler were also out of order. He further submitted that the boiler that exploded did not have a heat intensity gauge meter, therefore, the factory owner was guilty of negligence as he was supposed to ensure maintenance of safety standards at his factory.

Akhtar Hussain Baloch and Mohammad Ahsanullah have been indicted on manslaughter charges.—A Reporter